Kuldeep Yadav has suffered a steep downward curve in his career. From being called as India’s number one spinner after claiming a fifer in Australia in 2019, to not finding a place in even an IPL playing XI, Kuldeep’s career has gone full circle.
He warmed the benches for both India and KKR while newcomers came and performed on their ways to success. He also lost his place in the ODI team due to poor returns in the wicket column and leaking too many runs.
He has felt disappointment over missing a place in the Indian team, but the exclusion at the KKR has particularly affected him leading him to question his own abilities.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Kuldeep said that the Knight Riders did not play him even in Chennai where pitches were tailor-made for spinners like him. The exclusion left him shocked but he was helpless at it.
“I was especially when I didn’t find a place in my IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders. I wondered, ‘am I that bad?’ It’s a team-management decision and it would be wrong to go and ask them. I wasn’t played in Chennai during the IPL despite knowing it’s a turner. I was a bit shocked but couldn’t do anything. The bio-bubble life has also thrown challenges for everyone. When I am not playing, nothing looks nice,” Kuldeep said.
Kuldeep has also been dropped from a jumbo Indian squad for the tour of the UK where they will play New Zealand and England. India have selected four spinners in Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar but Kuldeep has not found a place in the team.